Thursday, June 28, 2012

Opening: A is for Allah, the Most Gracious One.Allah made the earth, the moon and the sun.The birds and the bees, the wind in the trees.Allah created for you and me.

Book Summary:From Allah to Zakat, children of all faiths will delight in these 26 rhymes that introduce Islam in a fun, contemporary way. Coupled with bright illustrations from award-winning artist Lina Safar, each page will capture kids’ attention and open a window into Muslim culture and history.

Resources:Visit the author website for a variety of coloring pages to download and color.

Why I like this book:Masha Allah! This was a really nice alphabet book! The first of its kind to be honest that I have learned about. As a teacher I have read many different alphabet books using a variety of themes but this one was refreshingly unique to Islamic culture. The illustrations are fun, warm and whimsical. It is definitely a must have in any Muslim child's home library. More importantly, it can even be used in a non-Muslim setting be it home, library or school to help introduce the meaning of a variety of Islamic vocabulary to children and adults from different backgrounds. I highly recommend this book!

Laila's interest in an unexpected topic opens up the doors to an unexpected lesson. After a quick fleeting thought to do something she had never thought of doing before, a new friend flies into the scene to save her day!

As Salaamu Alaikum and Welcome. I would love to introduce you to author, Rania Marwan and her book, Laila and Pesto the Fly.

Welcome Rania, please tell us a little bit about
yourself?

I am the proud mother of three kids, two beautiful
girls 13 and 11 years old, and a 4 year old young boy, and I consider this to
be my greatest accomplishment in life. I had my Bachelor's degree in
Economics in 1998 and my Masters degree in Public Administration in 2005 both
from the American University in Cairo.

What were your earliest memories of
writing?

My earliest memories in writing were in my 6th grade, we
were writing a short story as an in-class assignment, and the next day my
English teacher (Miss Gillian) called my name and the whole class
clapped their hands because of my well written story. I
remember my teacher's words very clearly, she said: "Rania, this is very
good". I also used to write my diary, and was very good at
communicating with the rest of the family via letters (hahaha!).

What was your favorite children’s
book growing up?

I do not remember a favorite children's book as I
grew up, but I would have to say that my father's limitless imagination, and
the stories that he told me when I was young would have to be the main source
of inspiration to me, and were it compiled in a single children's book, that
would have been my favorite one.

Were you encouraged to write or was
it something that came natural?

I was not encouraged to write, it just came natural,
I could always express myself better in writing.

What inspired you to write
"Laila and Pesto the Fly "?

My daughters inspired me to write "Laila and Pesto the
Fly". I was looking for a way to convey to them the beauty of Islamic
ethics in a non-conventional fictional way, and so I decided to write a story
in an attempt to grasp their attention towards the beauty of Islam. I
ended up writing "Laila and Pesto the Fly" but I did not
know what to do with the story, one day I decided to send it to a fellow member
in MWA (Muslimah writer's Alliance), Sister Isahah, and she was kind enough to
tell me about my current publisher (Creative Education and Publishing).

Tell us a little bit about your
story?

Laila and Pesto the Fly is a story about a young girl who was on
the verge of cheating on her Math test, but due to the intervention of a
devoted fly, she refrained from doing so, and was taught a lovely
lesson about the hadith that said: "He that deceives us is not one of
us."

What has the road to publishing your
books been like for you? Does it ever get easier?

The road was not very bumpy. I am a strong believer that if
one's intentions were purely for the sake of Allah, then everything will go as
smooth as can be. "Laila and Pesto the Fly" remained on my
desktop for a whole year, I never gave up, and I never felt bad about the lack
of response from the different publishers around the world that I sent the
story to. It took only one e-mail to sister Isahah Grant, and it was my
breakthrough IHL. The story was published, the director of MWA Sister
Aishah Schwartz graciously invited me to share my story on Al Jazeerah channel,
and I became one very satisfied writer. I only ask Allah swt to accept
all the deeds for his sake only, and none other, and assist me in making
a minuscule difference in this world ISA.

What do you hope children and adults
will take away from your book?

I ask Allah swt that children and adults would come to realize
that Islam is a religion of ethics, and that our Islamic heritage is full of
rich stories that support this. I wish I could help in conveying that
message in a fun, interesting, intriguing way.

How can your book be used in the
classroom?

The world is full of cutting edge technologies that
are used as substitutes to the good old method of holding a book and just
simply reading it. The simple process of reading and letting one's
imagination loose and transforming the words into mind images
is irreplaceable, and very educative.

What do you feel is the most
challenging obstacle in the publishing industry?

I would have to say it is marketing the books, and getting the
greatest amount of people to benefit from them.

What has been your most rewarding
experience since being published?

The most rewarding experience for me is to know that I can get
people young and old to appreciate the beauty of Islam.

What do you do when you’re not
writing or promoting your books?

I read. I love reading!

Are you working on a new book?

My books are a part of a series on Islamic ethics, and every
book talks about a specific theme, so I am currently preparing for the fourth
book, and waiting for the release of the third one ISA

What advice would you give parents on
selecting the right books for their children to read?

I would advise them to have a clear vision of
the message that they want to convey to their kids through the book,
and definitely read it themselves.

What advice would you like give to
new writers who wish to follow in your publishing footsteps?

My advice would be since you have a bigger purpose in life which
is to serve Allah SWT, so never give up, just keep on pushing and trying and
knocking on all the doors that you can find, you are bound to find a way
through :)

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Today's teaser is from a picture book called I Love My Hijab by Fatimah Ashaela Moore Ibrahim.

Hadiyah is so happy to be a new Muslim, but it does come with a few changes. Hadiyah learns that she will now dress a little differently than before. Mama buys her some new hijabs, and Hadiyah wears them all weekend. But Monday is school day.

What will her friends say? Will she now be the odd one out? Or will they accept her new appearance?

Opening:
Zaahir and Jamel are friends fast and true
Where one goes, the other goes too!

With a brand-new adventure each and every day
They invite you to join their fun along the way.

Today they are going to the Masjid for prayer
Let's watch and learn what happens there....

Summary:

This early reader rhyming series is based upon a young Muslim boy (Zaahir) and his

furry friend (Jamel the Camel). Come along with them and experience the pleasure and

joy of this beautiful ride to the mosque. Learning about Islam will be more fun than ever

with your Muslim pals Zaahir and Jamel the Camel

Resources:
The book includes lots of activities like an Islamic quiz, puzzle, Arabic activity, glossary and more at the end of the story.

Why I like this book:
I really like rhyming books and the author, Amatullah AlMarwani does a wonderful job weaving a fun and lyrical tale about a boy and his camel friend as they visit the mosque. Young children will learn and experience the pleasure and joy that Zaahir and Jamel has while there. I love that there are activities included at the end of the book that reinforces what they learned in a fun way.

As salamu alykum! My name is Juwayriyah and I am nine years old. I have a little sister named Hind! She's almost five and boy, is she something else.

Book Summary:

Hind’s Hands is a story told by a big sister who learns coping skills to befriend and lead her autistic younger sister. "You see, my sister Hind has Autism. And I know that sounds like a really big word, but it's not. Autism just means that Allah made her to learn and act and think differently than other kids her age." In the story Hind's Hands, big sister Juwayriyah learns just how special her younger sister is, despite the challenging behaviors that she often has to deal with. Author Umm Juwayriyah collaborates with her oldest daughter, Juwayriyah Ayed on this book to help spread awareness about Autism.

Links to resources:

I could not find any resources from the author’s site but here are some links for more information about autism. What is Autism? Here are ten facts about autism. KidsHealth is a wonderful site that explains Autism to children using simple language and facts. Autism Speaks is another site with great resources for people with autism including apps. About.com Home-schooling has many activities including a word search, coloring pagesone & two, vocabulary, crossword puzzle, fill in the blank Q&A, bookmarks and more.

Why I like this book:

What I really like about this book is that while it gives some general information about autism it does not generalize autism. You can't generalize autism. How one child or person with autism behaves is different than how another may. Yes, there are some characteristics that they all share, but they are just as much individuals as the rest of us. My oldest brother has autism and while he also has many characteristics as Hind, he is also very much different and his technique of calming himself is different. This is a VERY sweet tale about a sibling and how she learns to deal with her younger sibling with a disability. I commend the authors for sharing their story of love, patience, family and autism.

Opening: My name is Lena, and I am the seven I am the color of cinnamon. Mom says she can eat me up.

Book Summary: Seven-year-old Lena is going to paint a picture of herself. She wants to use brown paint for her skin. But when she and her mother take a walk through the neighborhood, Lena learns that brown comes in many different shades. Through the eyes of a little girl who begins to see her familiar world in a new way, this book celebrates the differences and similarities that connect all people.

This book is a “magically delicious” tale that celebrates diversity in our homes and communities. I love how the author uses tasty and yummy comparisons to showcase the variety of tones and hues of our skin like 'creamy peanut butter' 'cinnamon' and 'chocolate'. This book is great not just for biracial or children of color but every child will love the bold illustrations as they follow Lena as she moves about her community.

A Long Time Ago, in a certain place in Africa, a small
village lay across a fiver and half a day’s journey from a city where a great
king lived. A man named Mufaro lived in this village with his two daughters, who
were called Manyara and Nyasha. Everyone agreed that Manyara and Nyasha were
very beautiful.

Book Summary:

Both of Mufaro's daughters are beautiful but one is bad
tempered and one is kind. When the king of the land asks the daughters to appear
before him so he can choose a queen, the prideful, bad tempered daughter decides
to set out in the night so she can get there first. Along the path are many
opportunities to show one's true character. The kind daughter who follows the
same path the next day makes different decisions - with different results and a
surprising ending!

This is another book from my childhood. What stood out
the most for me were the illustrations and how they captured the imagination and
transported me to Mufaro’s village somewhere in Africa. Naturally, Nyasha was my
favorite character; she was sweet, kind (she let her sister live in the palace with her) and so pretty AND she marries the king in the end!
Who does not like happy endings!?! :D

Saturday, June 9, 2012

The following questions focus on the literacy and reading habits of school-age children. The results of this survey will hopefully help me form a better understanding of how children view reading, ideas to help encourage and promote their love of reading and fun ways to improve reading habits for the reluctant readers. I appreciate your participation and cooperation and I look forward to hearing from you! :)

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

As Salaamu Alaikum and Welcome. I would love to introduce you to author, Janette Grant and her book, Sameerah's Hijab and The First Day of School. Janette is also a blogger and writer for examiner.com.

Please tell us a little bit about
yourself?

My name is
Janette Grant and I am a revert to Islam. I converted to Islam in April of 1998
after having been a practicing born-again Christian.

What was your favorite children’s
book growing up?

Tiki Tiki
Tembo by Arlene Mosel. I think what I really loved most was the little song of
Tiki Tiki Tembo’s full name from the book. As I got older I enjoyed reading
Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume books.

Were you encouraged to write or was
it something that came natural?

It was
something that came naturally to me. I have always been very shy and find it
easier to express myself through my writing.

What inspired you to write your book
"Sameerah's Hijab and The First Day of School"?

My son was
the inspiration behind Sameerah’s Hijab and the First Day of School and I had
originally submitted the story to the publisher as a story about a little boy
and wearing his kufi for the first day of school. When my son started school in
kindergarten, we had to enroll him in a public school and he would come home
and tell me how his classmates would ask him questions about his kufi and that
some of his friends asked if I would make kufis for them. It was only after
having discussions with the publisher that he suggested that the story may
reach more readers if we changed the story to tell about a girl and her hijab on
the first day of school.

Why do you feel this topic is
important for any girl to read?

I feel
this topic is important for the sake understanding one another and for exposing
the shared values that many of us have in society. I also think that it is
important for providing an accurate representation of Muslims and Islam for
children and people living in the West who may not know anything about Islam
and its practices.

What was the most difficult part of
writing your story?

The most
difficult part for me was keeping it short enough for a child to read but
filled with enough information that would inform and entertain at the same
time. It was most challenging to maintain the balance between sharing accurate
knowledge and entertaining the reader within the page restrictions for content.
There always seemed to be more that I could say or write concerning the topics
addressed.

What do you hope that readers will
take away from your book?

I hope
that readers will take away an appreciation for the beauty of Islam and an open
heart concerning Muslims and Islam; and especially for hijabis. Wearing the
hijab is both an act of faith and an act of courage when living in a society
where wearing the hijab is often thought of as foreign and I hope that this
book will help others to be more compassionate towards girls and women who wear
the hijab.

What has your publishing journey for
this book like?

It has
been very exciting and rewarding. Seeing my story in print lends a certain
element authenticity to my efforts and it has been a very gratifying endeavor.

What has been your most rewarding
experience since being published?

My most
rewarding experience was receiving an email message from a sister who has a
copy of the book and who has said that she reads it to her two daughters often
and that they love it. It choked me up to read the email because that is one of
the things that I had hoped for: that little Muslims could enjoy a story that
was written essentially about them and for them and their peers.

Is there anything you wish you had
known about the publishing industry before you became a published author?

No, not at
this moment. I have been blessed to have had a very positive experience with
the publisher of my book.

How do you deal with a bad review?

I take the
criticism with meekness and try not to take it personally. Every bad review is
a learning experience one way or another.

What do you do when you’re not
writing or promoting your books?

I work from
home in the telecommunications industry and crochet in my free time. I also
love to read and try to read regularly.

Are you working on a new book?

Yes, I am
currently working on my first fiction book for adult readers. I hope to have it
published sometime in the near future.

How can your book be used in the
classroom?

My book
can be used in the classroom in a social studies class to highlight diversity
and to reveal information about Islam as well as showcasing how easy it is for
children to get along when they understand one another.

What advice would you give parents
on selecting the right books for their children to read?

I would say to research the available
books for your children first before committing to purchasing, only because
there is so much of a wide variety of books. There are lots of resources
available at local bookstores, public libraries and online to help in the
selection of good and beneficial books for young minds.

Thank you so much Janette for
joining us today and sharing your publishing journey with us. For more info about Janette and her book, check out the links below.

Topics/Theme: hijab, new school, friendship, making new friends, people & cultures: Yemen

Age: 4 and up

Summary:Sameerah has moved to the United States from Yemen and has brought a treasured portion of her culture with her. in this story about a little girl's love for her hijab, see how not only she shares her culture with new friends but also how she learns about her new home and classmates.

Why I like this book:
We have all, at some time in our lives, had to leave behind old friends and places to experience new ones whether going to a new neighborhood, school, city, state, or country. In this story, Sameerah must learn to adjust to a new country and school when she and her parents arrive to the US from Yemen. Sameerah is not sure if she will fit in at her new school. Sameerah faces her fears head on as she teaches her new classmates all about her culture and hijab. But Sameerah does more than just share her religious and cultural background, she also learns about the religious and cultural backgrounds of her classmates. She makes friends with a couple of girls who are impressed with her hijab and the fact that her mother sews them. :) A great book to encourage young girls going into school who may or may not wear hijab but still would like to share their culture, religion and heritage with others.

All afternoon, Aaron helped carry-or shlep, as his grandpa, Zayde, called it-boxes of books up the apartment-house staris.

Book Summary:

When Aaron is a small boy, his Grandpa, or Zayde, does not teach him Yiddish, but when Aaron becomes an adult he longs to learn the language and history of the Old Country from Zayde and his many books.

Links to resources:

The author provides a brief history of the Yiddish language and a glossary of words at the end of the book. These words can be turned into word searches, flash cards and more.

This is a great book that teaches the importance of preserving languages and cultures. I find many young people these days (myself included) do not speak their mother or father tongue (my dad’s language being Amharic). For whatever reason many parents and grandparents have for not passing on their history and language, I think in the end it does the youth a dis-service not knowing their past and the rich heritage, history, traditions and respect that comes with knowing the language of the “Old Country” whether that country is in Africa, Asia or Europe. Language is a part of knowing who you are and where you come from. I am happy that in the end, Aaron sees the importance and chooses to teach his son Yiddish while he is still young. While this book is in English, it is unique in its representation of the Yiddish language. It is bounded back to front the same way Yiddish books are printed. While it was not an uncommon experience for me, as the Qur’an, the Muslim’s holy book, is printed the same way, it was fun to read an English book printed in that format.